Allen gets double-double as Red takes thriller from White at intrasquad game

Jump to Red-White box Score FAYETTEVILLE – Sophomore Danielle Allen scored 23 points with 12 rebounds to lead the Red team to a 63-59 victory in the University of Arkansas’ women’s basketball team annual Red-White Game at Bud Walton Arena. Allen’s 23 points off 8-of-13 from the field was one of three players on the Red in double figures, but senior April Seggebruch’s 24 for the White team lead all players. Head coach Susie Gardner was pleased with the overall effort by both teams in a contest that proved to be a see-saw battle. “At first we were worried that this might be a little early, but I think it proved to be at just the right time,” Gardner said. “We got a lot of great games from some of our newcomers and younger players.” Allen averaged just over a point a game as a freshman playing in 27 of Arkansas’ 28 games, but broke from the gate early to help Red to a 20-8 lead just six minutes into the intrasquad game. The 6-0 forward from nearby Harrison, Ark., credited a shift in position back to the high post from last year’s swing player position. “I felt more comfortable on the floor, and we were playing as a team tonight,” Allen said. Gardner also saw a change in Allen, but more in her demeanor than position. “She’s made that freshman to sophomore improvement that so many people talk about, but most of all she’s out there playing with confidence,” Gardner said. Seggebruch almost single-handedly brought the White team back from the early 12-point deficit with three consecutive treys to narrow the gap to one, 28-27, three minutes before halftime. For the game, the senior outside shooter went 6-of-12 from behind the arc. “I feel like when I get on a roll that it makes my whole game better,” Seggebruch said. “But just having played a year at Arkansas makes a big difference. We know each other on the court and we’re playing together.” Team has been a constant them with the 2004-05 Lady’Backs, and Gardner saw a lot of improvement despite having practiced less than two weeks. “Certainly we could not go full court press in a Red-White Game, but I saw a lot of teamwork and effort,” she said. “I’ve never had an (intrasquad) game as a coach, and it was great to sit back and take the whole game in. I saw a lot of areas we can work on heading into the exhibition games, but I also saw a lot of positives.” Arkansas played a pair of 15 minute halves for the Red-White Game. Allen’s rebounding was one of those positives as the sophomore pulled down 12 to go with her 23 points. “I think rebounding gets my game going,” she said. In the second half, White build a five-point lead off free throws from Sarah Feifer and a three-pointer from Seggebruch, 43-38, with 10:35 to play. From there it was a back-and-forth battle with nine lead changes. Junior transfers Melissa Hobbs and Sheree Thompson provided considerable fireworks during the game. A midseason transfer from Colorado, Hobbs hit 5-of-10 from the field for 15 points as the second leading scorer for the Red team. Thompson was making her Arkansas debut after missing last year with a torn ACL, and her late game steal with a minute left and pass to Brittney Vaughn prevented a White team rally by tying the game at 59, then another steal and layup by Thompson gave Red back the lead with 22 seconds left. “All the newcomers seemed to have good games tonight,” Gardner said. Thompson had a combined six points and nine rebounds playing for both teams. Junior Kristin Moore had six each for Red and White as the teams traded players at halftime for 12 on the evening. Another comeback player was redshirt sophomore Sarah Pfeifer who turned in 12 points for the White team with nine rebounds. The Lady’Backs were without the services of 6-3 junior preseason all-SEC post Ruby Vaden in the Red-White Game, but she is expected to be back from injury by next Friday’s exhibition game on Nov. 5 against Everyone’s Internet.